nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, december 4, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (10.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) climbed to the top spot on Tuesday with its mix of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (10.09 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3), a repeat of "NCIS" (11.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T5) and "The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" (9.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1).

NBC (7.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "The Voice" (11.33 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2), "Go On" (6.94 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4), "The New Normal" (4.59 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) and "Parenthood" (4.90 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7).

Next up was FOX (3.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with a full night of originals from "Raising Hope" (3.70 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10), "Ben & Kate" (2.67 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #15), "New Girl" (4.14 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T5) and "The Mindy Project" (2.63 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T11).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.82 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up a special "Shark Tank" (6.86 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) alongside new episodes of "Happy Endings" (3.50 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T11), "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (2.99 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T13) and "Private Practice" (4.36 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T13).

And finally, new episodes of "Hart of Dixie" (1.69 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.6, #16) and "Emily Owens, MD" (1.57 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.4, #17) closed out the night on The CW (1.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.9 rating while "Emily" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Emily Owens, MD
+33.33% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. 11/20/12)
+20.00% - Hart of Dixie
+8.33% - Happy Endings (vs. 11/20/12)
0.00% - Go On
0.00% - The New Normal
0.00% - Private Practice (vs. 11/20/12)
-5.56% - Parenthood
-10.53% - The Voice
-10.53% - Shark Tank (vs. 11/16/12)
-13.04% - New Girl
-13.33% - The Mindy Project
-17.65% - Raising Hope
-21.43% - Ben & Kate

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+126.67% - The Voice (vs. A Michael Buble Christmas)
+118.75% - The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (vs. Unforgettable (Repeat))
+18.18% - Happy Endings (vs. The Middle (Repeat))
+13.64% - Go On (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
0.00% - Emily Owens, MD (vs. Ringer (Repeat))
-7.69% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. Suburgatory (Repeat))
-19.05% - Shark Tank (vs. Last Man Standing/Man Up!)
-20.00% - Private Practice (vs. Body of Proof)
-22.73% - The New Normal (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
-22.73% - Parenthood (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
-25.00% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 90210)
-40.91% - The Mindy Project (vs. Raising Hope)
-41.18% - New Girl
-51.72% - Raising Hope (vs. Glee)
-62.07% - Ben & Kate (vs. Glee)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4 with an encore.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/6/11):

FOX (6.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) slipped into the top spot on Tuesday with new episodes of "Glee" (7.09 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2), "New Girl" (6.82 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) and "Raising Hope" (4.63 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4).

CBS (10.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T2) then split the silver with its all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (12.71 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (12.14 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6) and "Unforgettable" (7.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8).

NBC (6.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T2) offered up its "A Michael Buble Christmas" (7.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10) followed by the relocated "The Biggest Loser 12" (6.71 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4).

Next up was ABC (5.95 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) and its combination of "Last Man Standing" (8.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3), "Man Up!" (4.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8), "The Middle" (3.78 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13), "Suburgatory" (4.01 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) and "Body of Proof" (7.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10).

And finally, the fall finale of "90210" (1.50 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14) led into a repeat of "Ringer" (0.84 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) on The CW (1.17 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.4 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.5 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+8.33% - Last Man Standing
0.00% - 90210
-5.56% - New Girl
-5.88% - Man Up!
-8.33% - The Biggest Loser 12
-8.33% - Raising Hope
-9.38% - Glee
-16.67% - Body of Proof

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+29.41% - Raising Hope (vs. Running Wilde)
+17.24% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+7.14% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
0.00% - Last Man Standing (vs. A Charlie Brown Christmas)
-20.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
-29.03% - The Biggest Loser 12
-34.09% - Glee
-38.46% - Man Up! (vs. A Charlie Brown Christmas)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research